DATE: April 4, 2006
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT: Removal of Deed Restriction on Bostonia Fire Station Property

SUMMARY:
On November 12, 1958, the Board of Supervisors took action to transfer ownership of the property at 1273 Clarendon Street in El Cajon to the Bostonia Local Fire District. The Bostonia Local Fire District is now a part of the East County Fire Protection District. Although the District has owned the property for almost 50 years, the deed contains a restriction which transfers ownership of the property back to the County in the event it would cease to be used as a fire station.

The Fire District has requested to have this restriction removed, granting the District full title to the property. The property size is only .16 of an acre and given the size, age and condition of the current station, the District will need to replace this facility at some point in the near future. Due to the fact that the East County Fire Protection District receives a significantly low share of property tax revenue, the District lacks the financial means to build a new station without having full ownership of the property.

If this action is approved, the County would remove the deed restriction so that the Fire District would be able to fully utilize this property when the District plans to build a new station to better serve the Bostonia area.

Recommendations
SUPERVISOR DIANNE JACOB

1. Find that the proposed removal of the deed restriction is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA guidelines sections 15312.
2. Declare the deed restriction for County parcel 2006-0089-A surplus to County needs.
3. Authorize the Director, Department of General Services, to perform all necessary actions to complete the removal of the deed restriction.

Fiscal Impact
Since the County does not have ownership of the Bostonia fire station property, there is no fiscal impact associated with this action.

Background
The East County Fire Protection District was formed on July 1, 1994 when the Bostonia and Crest FPD’s were consolidated into one district, which operates out of two stations. The District serves an estimated 15,000 residents and covers nearly 12 square miles. The Bostonia station services approximately 10,000 of those residents and runs about 1800 calls per year. The District is primarily residential with some commercial and industrial development, and it provides fire, emergency medical and rescue services to its citizens as well as disaster preparedness and community education.

The County owned property at 1273 Clarendon Street in El Cajon had originally been purchased in the 1920s for the purpose of the Bostonia Volunteer Fire Station. On November 12, 1958, the Board of Supervisors took action to transfer ownership of the property to the Bostonia Local Fire District. Although the District has owned the property for almost 50 years, the deed contains a restriction which transfers ownership of the property back to the County in the event it would cease to be used as a fire station.

The Fire District has requested to have this restriction removed granting the District full title to the property. The Bostonia station’s property is not of adequate size to construct a replacement facility without interrupting the current service to its residents, as the property is only .16 of an acre. Given the size, age and condition of the current station, the District will need to replace this facility at some point in the near future. With the title as it is today, the District does not show any value for the property on their balance sheet and is unable to generate funding from the existing site. Due to the fact that the East County Fire Protection District receives a significantly low share of property tax revenue, the District lacks the financial means to build a new station without having full ownership of the property.

Today’s action will allow the East County Fire Protection District to meet the needs of residents in the future by providing the District the ability to fully utilize the property that it currently owns. I urge your support.


Respectfully Submitted,



DIANNE JACOB
Supervisor, Second District